Derby Move To Bring In Waghorn

Derby County have moved to add further quality to their attacking options by completing a deal to sign sought-after frontman Martyn Waghorn.

The 28-year-old forward joins Frank Lampard’s side from fellow Sky Bet Championship rivals Ipswich Town on a three-year dealafter an undisclosed fee was agreed with the Tractor Boys.

Waghorn is manager Lampard’s seventh summer signing after adding Mason Mount, Harry Wilson, Florian Jozefzoon, Jack Marriott, George Evans and Fikayo Tomori to his squad following his appointment at the end of May.

Derby’s latest recruit could make his debut in a Rams shirt when Leeds United head to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday (5:30pm kick-off).

Speaking about his latest signing, Lampard said: “I’m delighted to see Martyn Waghorn become a Derby County player - I think this is a big signing for us.

“He has been sought-after all summer and we’ve managed to bring him here, which is fantastic. We sold the club to him and, importantly, he wanted to come here and that’s the sort of player that I want in the squad.

“Martyn has many great qualities and he has been pretty prolific over the last few years in front of goal. He is a real all-round striker and last year we saw not only could he score goals in the Championship but create them as well.”

Waghorn, a former England Under-21 international, joins the Rams after an impressive return to English football last season with Ipswich.

He notched 16 goals in all competitions and also racked up a further 11 assists over the course of the 2017/18 campaign.

Waghorn moved to Portman Road last summer after enjoying an exceptional two years with Glasgow giants, Rangers. The forward scored 44 goals in 78 games in all competitions at Ibrox between 2015 and 2017 and was a Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup winner in his first season north of the border.

Having graduated from the Sunderland Academy, Waghorn went on to feature for the Black Cats and gain further EFL experience out on loan with Charlton Athletic and Leicester City.

He joined the Foxes on a permanent deal in 2010 and in total notched 20 goals in 103 League appearances at the King Power Stadium, in between enjoying successful loan stints with Hull City, Millwall and Wigan Athletic before sealing a permanent switch to the latter.

In total, Waghorn has scored 93 goals in club football from 314 appearances.